Date Days Are The Best

I live for days like this.

I woke up on the couch this morning, after having apparently fallen asleep there last night. I had a pajama-clad, tornado-haired mess free climbing across my lap to start the morning, and although my couch doesn't have a sleep number, waking up was no issue.

First order of business?
Pancakes. I mean, when it's a date day with Sydni, you'd better plan on pancakes at some point, otherwise you'll end up eating them for dinner (she's a focused kinda girl..). It may seem like a small formality, but I know better, and as I'd expected, it was a good call.

With bellies properly filled, we set off on a course for the woods. With the trees still bare, it's not the type of nature outing I generally envision, but that didn't detract from the satisfaction of fresh air and uneven footing, an uprooted tree and treads of dog prints scattered across the path recovering from last week's heavy rainfall. For the majority of our adventure, we were the only two on the trail, which afforded some genuine Sydni conversation.

and we're off! 

the joys of self timers! ;) 

the this tree almost fell on me! face
[for the record, no, it did not]

As always, I was reminded again today just how proud I should be - and am - of this girl, for the perspective on the world that she's happy to share with me, and that every single day, a new part of her personality blooms and makes its statement in a new facial expression, unexpected quip or something otherwise random or unique. Goshhhh, love this girl..

my favorite from the day

sassy lil thing! 

We finished our hike, and I agreed to continuing on our date day by indulging multiple requests for froyo... haha. IYO it was. We ran into one of the pastors from Syd's other side, who I've met once before but of course invited Sydni back to assist with the operations for the short time we were there. 

cashier in training! 

Our day out and about ended with a heaping bowl of pasta and a Disney Netflix marathon. There's a tired little bug snoozing away in her room with two pups using her feet as pillows, and I'm one happy mama.

Rob's back tomorrow, but it won't be before the post-service informational meeting for SonRise Panama, round 2!! Any eyes that cross this post before tomorrow morning, please know that prayers are hugely appreciated and needed for this - I believe the plans are still in their infancy stage now, but I know June will be here before we all know it. 

So for now, good night, loves! 

xo | cmd

HELLO, MAY!

It's MAY!

I'll spare you the Timberlake/N*Sync memes today; I got mine in yesterday, hah ;).

So YEAH, it's Friday, it's May 1st, and today was... awesome.

To start off, the sun was out. That doesn't sound like a big deal to most people, but when you live in OHIO, in MAY, the weather can be doing any number of things other than being tolerable. The good vibe was set for the day, and it grew better and better as the day wore on.

Elisa and I escaped the monotony of work for the traditional Friday lunch; Northside was our destination, and after a beautiful back patio timeout with delicious chicken wraps at Melt, we stopped by Sidewinder for some iced coffee.

not too bad for a day in the city! ♥

And when you're in Northside at Sidewinder, you don't not go to Chicken Lays an Egg right across the street. In fact, you go and you try on all the sunglasses. Because they're awesome, that's why!

stolen from e's IG

snazzy. 

Love.
Work ended, and the routine led me into Milford to pick up Sydni. She was out within 10 minutes of the car ride home, like usual, but not before giving the universe another priceless kid quote:

Syd: Mommy, is tomorrow my day off? 
Me: Yes; it's Saturday! That means you get to sleep in! 
Syd: YEAH. It means we can do whateeeever we want! Except play with knives.
Me: Yeah... ummm.. except that. 
Syd: Perfect. Don't wake me up tomorrow morning. 

^ Gotta love kids, hahaha. Not five minutes after she said that, this happened: 

zonked. 

We made it home only to change our clothes and head right back out the door; Rob had the excellent idea to take an evening hike before dinner. I thought that was an amazing idea, so we headed out to Withrow for a short jaunt around the property, which culminated at an overlook to the Ohio River. 

giant tree... perfect for climbing! 

little nature girly

Back in the car, our bellies were rumbling; we voted a Friday night family dinner date in Eastgate, but not before a pitstop at Family Christian. To my heart;s joy, not only did I find a new 365 devotional, but so did ROB! ♥♥ This is a pretty big step for us to do together, and I'm prayfully confident that there is growth beyond measure in store for both of us.

#truuuuuuuuuth.

We finally made it to dinner before heading home for a few minutes of unwind before bed. It's been a long and fulfilling day; my heart is happy with my simple little life  and I'm anxious to see what tomorrow has in store!

xo | cmd 

Withrow Nature Preserve [We'll Be BACK!]

I don't know how he does it, but even being shy of 2 years here in Cincinnati, Rob manages continuously to uncover places I didn't know existed. That's more my fault for being oblivious, but there's no complaint here that he took us on a detour after church & lunch.

parks! :) 

Before we hit the park, it was church and lunch.

great day for ice cream! 

We treated ourselves, because Syd was well-deserving of a little pick-me-up. Plus, do you really need an excuse for free soft-serve? ;)

We spent our afternoon exploring the Withrow Nature Preserve, which we will absolutely be visiting again when it's warm outside.

sneak peak of the center! 

^ Oh yeah... THEY. HAVE. OWLS.
That one wasn't living, but they did have a little screech owl recovering from an injury onsite [adorbs] and apparently several others that inhabit the natural area. It was recommended by the sweet gal at the desk that we make it a point to come back in the Spring & Summer, when the kids activities are going strong & the weather is tolerable. That we will.. that we will!

Happy Sunday, folks - I hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have!

xo | cmd